Classic Poem

A H wretched Israel! once a bless'd, and happy State,
The Darling of the Stars, and Heavens Care,
Then all the bord'ring world thy Vassals were,
And thou at once their Envy and their Fear,
How soon art thou (alas!) by the sad turn of Fate
Become abandon'd and forlorn?
How art thou now become their Pity, and their scorn?
Thy Lustre all is vanish'd, all thy Glory fled,
Thy Sun himself set in a blood red,
Too sure Prognostick! which does ill portend
Approaching Storms on thy unhappy Land,
Left naked and defenceless now to each invading Hand.
A fatal Battel, lately fought,
Has all these Mis'ries and Misfortunes brought,
Has thy quick Ruin and Destruction wrought:
There fell we by a mighty Overthrow
A Prey to an enrag'd, relentless Foe,
The toil and labour of their wearied Cruelty,
Till they no more could kill, and we no longer die:
Vast slaughter all around th' enlarged Mountain swells,
And numerous Deaths increase its former Hills.